Mondo Bobo
Encyclopedia
Mondo Bobo is a critically acclaimed 1997 Croatian film
directed by Goran Rušinović
.
initially had an idea to create a true crime
film based on life of Vinko Pintarić
, a notorious serial killer
, and to cast rock singer Davor Gobac in the lead role. Rušinović quickly abandoned this concept, making the protagonist a fictional character, but the plot remained loosely based on some of the Pintarić's exploits.
Rušinović described his status in Zagreb
at the time as being a "total outsider", since Mondo Bobo was his debut feature film. To give himself a sense of security, he drew a complete storyboard
before the start of the filming.
's films, which in the 1990s went through a period of revival spurred by American independent film
. Although the film is described today as having flaws in characterisation and narrative composition, it is still regarded as having offered something fresh and contemporary in Croatian cinema
of the 1990s.
The film won five Golden Arena awards at the 1997 Pula Film Festival
(the Croatian national film awards festival), including Best Film, Best Director
, Best Actor, Best Editing and Best Production Design.
Cinema of Croatia
The cinema of Croatia has a somewhat shorter tradition than what is common for other Central European countries: the serious beginning of Croatian cinema starts with the rise of the Yugoslavian film industry in the 1940s...
directed by Goran Rušinović
Goran Rušinović
Goran Rušinović is an award-winning Croatian film director and screenwriter.After graduating from the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts Rušinović went on to enrol at the European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark in 1993, where he directed his first short film titled Kilo of Shrimp...
.
Synopsis
Bobo, a young man, (played by Sven Medvešek) kills two criminals in self-defense. Acting on his lawyer's advice, he turns himself in, but ends up in a mental institution. He then escapes and meets up with his girlfriend (Mojca Židanik), but she gets killed in a police shootout. With Bobo on the run, the police start a manhunt which also attracts a great deal of media attention, including an ambitious journalist (Nataša Dorčić) who follows the chase. Bobo then barricades himself in an abandoned house and takes a woman for a hostage.Production
Director and screenwriter Goran RušinovićGoran Rušinović
Goran Rušinović is an award-winning Croatian film director and screenwriter.After graduating from the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts Rušinović went on to enrol at the European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark in 1993, where he directed his first short film titled Kilo of Shrimp...
initially had an idea to create a true crime
True crime
True crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
film based on life of Vinko Pintarić
Vinko Pintarić
Vinko Pintarić was a Croatian serial killer and outlaw who murdered five people over the course of 17 years and escaped from prisons and police stakeouts on multiple occasions...
, a notorious serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, and to cast rock singer Davor Gobac in the lead role. Rušinović quickly abandoned this concept, making the protagonist a fictional character, but the plot remained loosely based on some of the Pintarić's exploits.
Rušinović described his status in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
at the time as being a "total outsider", since Mondo Bobo was his debut feature film. To give himself a sense of security, he drew a complete storyboard
Storyboard
Storyboards are graphic organizers in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence....
before the start of the filming.
Reception
The black-and-white film has been described as "an energetic art film featuring an excellent rock-and-roll score", and was seen at the time as a step away from the usual stereotypes of Croatian cinema. Other critics drew parallels with the poetics of Jean-Luc GodardJean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
's films, which in the 1990s went through a period of revival spurred by American independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
. Although the film is described today as having flaws in characterisation and narrative composition, it is still regarded as having offered something fresh and contemporary in Croatian cinema
Cinema of Croatia
The cinema of Croatia has a somewhat shorter tradition than what is common for other Central European countries: the serious beginning of Croatian cinema starts with the rise of the Yugoslavian film industry in the 1940s...
of the 1990s.
The film won five Golden Arena awards at the 1997 Pula Film Festival
Pula Film Festival
The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....
(the Croatian national film awards festival), including Best Film, Best Director
Golden Arena for Best Director
The Golden Arena for Best Director is an award given for best director at the Pula Film Festival, which was until 1992 the Yugoslav equivalent of the Academy Awards. Since 1992 and the breakup of Yugoslavia the competition narrowed to Croatian films only...
, Best Actor, Best Editing and Best Production Design.
External links
- Mondo Bobo at Filmski-Programi.hr